MTM...is that candy the pharmacy sells?

What Is Medication Therapy Management(MTM)?

Medication therapy management, also referred to as MTM, is a term used to describe a broad range of health care services provided by pharmacists, the medication experts on the health care team.

As defined in a consensus definition adopted by the pharmacy profession in 2004, medication therapy management is a service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients. Medication therapy management services include medication therapy reviews, pharmacotherapy consults, anticoagulation management, immunizations, health and wellness programs and many other clinical services. Pharmacists provide medication therapy management to help patients get the best benefits from their medications by actively managing drug therapy and by identifying, preventing and resolving medication-related problems.


Why Is Medication Therapy Management Needed?

Medication-related problems and medication mismanagement are a massive public health problem in the United States. Experts estimate that 1.5 million preventable adverse events occur each year that result in $177 billion in injury and death.


Who Can Benefit From Medication Therapy Management?

Anyone who uses prescription medications, non-prescription medications, herbals, or other dietary supplements may potentially benefit from medication therapy management services.

People who may benefit the most include those who use several medications, those who have several health conditions, those who have questions or problems with their medications, those who are taking medications that require close monitoring, those who have been hospitalized, and those who obtain their medications from more than one pharmacy.


This information and more is provided by http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?section=MTM

Happy Easter!

Drake Relays

I MISS the RELAYS. All that I will be missing this year:

DRAKE RELAYS EVENTS SCHEDULE

Friday, April 15
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Street Painting - Drake Campus

Saturday, April 16
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. — Drake Relays Parade
(Route: Forest to 30th St. to University to 25th)

Monday, April 25
10:45 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. 32nd Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest
Sponsored by: Bankers Trust and Prairie Meadows
The 2011 bulldog contestants have been chosen.


The Drake Relays, Iowa's premier sporting event, will feature 115 events during the 102nd running of the track and field extravaganza April 27-30 at Drake Stadium.

The "Pole Vault in the Mall" at Jordan Creek Town Center returns this year after a one-year hiatus with a new format and a talent-rich roster featuring some of the best men's and women's pole vaulters in the world.

Living Green

While in DC I have been living green by necessity and by choice. I have always been environmental conscience but have taken a few more steps while living in a city that prides itself on being healthy and green.

*I take public transportation to and from work everyday during the weekdays.

*I walk or bike to most site seeing places on the weekend as well as the grocery store once a week

*I have been using eco-friendly washer/dryer while air drying as much of my clothing as possible.

*I recycle about twice as much as I throw away

*I mowed the lawn with a push blade

*I visit the farmer's market regularly to purchase my produce

It all makes me feel good. Even pharmacists can preserve the envirnoment.

Housewarming Party Gift

I have a housewarming party to go to this Saturday night. Since I am a young professional and most of my friends just graduated a few years ago, I have not had the chance to attend too many house warming parties. I went online to get some ideas for gifts.

Some of the more funny or interesting gifts;

fishbowls, a drink holster, a soap dispensing nose, a plate/drink combo, a liquid dispensing seat cushion and whiskey cubes.
























The party I am attending is for a house of five friends. I may go with a pair of ear plugs and bottle of wine for each house resident. Any other suggestions?

Pharmacy Student in DC

My parents were in DC for the weekend. It was busy but fun!

Took a tour of the Capital building.


We saw the Cherry Blossom Parade.











Got a once in a lifetime 'garden tour' of the White House lawn allowing us to get up close to the House and Mrs. Obama's garden.













Topped off the weekend with a moonlight tour of the national mall.

Government Shut-Down

Why? The government cannot agree on a budget for the fiscal year (started in October, ends in September). We are half way through the fiscal year and still no budget?? That is like giving a young teen a credit card, letting them go on a spending spree and then trying to rein them in...how effective is a budget after the fact?

Cause? The government spends beyond its means. Sounds familiar. I wonder where half of those Americans that lost their homes and went into foreclosure learned overspending from??

How? The government will require that all 'non-essential' employees to take a furlough. A furlough may save some money. But there will be tons of money lost if tourism is shut down, to restart all government agencies (re-plan meetings, catch up with missed work, etc), and traditionally the employees have received back pay for the furlough (which seems ridiculous to pay employees for NOT working). So will this really save money? Probably Not.

Government Goals? The goal of congress is to agree on a budget. So will a furlough get the government to a budget decision quicker??...Probably Not.

What It Means? The whole shut down situation is embarrassing for Americans everywhere. It shows us how many unresolved issues our government has. It proves to other nations that the US cannot run the country efficiently. For example, we had a conference call with health agencies in other countries the other day and they could not understand why or how a government could shut down, especially the American government.

Are we all supposed to just quit when we cannot get our way or come to an agreement with others? I sure hope not.

Politicians need to focus on the long term goals of the country rather than the short term re-election goal they have in mind. I would like to see some agreements made for the sake of all Americans not just federal employees. I know there were no furloughs when the Constitution or Bill of Rights were agreed upon so a one year budget should be do-able.

How to Conquer a Defeatist Attitude

I need some help with my defeating attitude about my career (or lack of) right now. I seem to be getting frustrated with myself as more and more pharmacy students are talking about the residencies they have for the next year or the definite plans (more education or a job) they have made already. When it comes to my career after graduation, I feel like I am in an empty room with a blindfold on. I decided that I needed some help with my defeating attitude so I thought of some advice.

Conquer a Defeatist Attitude:

1. Belittle the worrisome idea or issue. To make the BIG issue seem smaller, ask "So what is the worst that will happen if ---- happens?"

2. Take action. What can you do today that will help you with the worrisome thoughts/ideas?

3. Make small goals that lead to larger goals that will allow you to conquer the defeating attitude.

4. Incorporate a positive attitude, even if you do not believe it today. Enough use of optimism can create a positive attitude eventually.

5. Spend more time thinking about how to conquer the defeated attitude rather than time about how you have failed.

Any other advice?